One on one with Legendary Director, Wanuri kahiu

Wanuri Kahiu

Wanuri Kahiu is an African writer and filmmaker. Born and raised in Nairobi, she is a rising star in the world film. She co-founded AFROBUBBLEGUM, a production house through which she creates her films. Afrobubblegum is a media company that supports, creates and commissions fun, fierce and frivolous African art.

Her projects tell the stories that others hesitate to. In 2008 she completed her first feature film ‘From a whisper’ which was based on the event surrounding the twin bombings of US embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam in 1998. The film won awards at the Africa Movie Academy Awards including Best Director and Best Picture, the Golden Dhow award at Zanzibar International Film Festival and Best Film at Kalasha, Kenya Film and TV awards. This strengthened her zeal and pushed her to do more.

She barely took a break and in 2009 she completed two projects. She did a documentary on the life of Nobel Laureate Wangari Mathai for M-Net’s ‘Great Africans’ Series and also did a short sci-fi film ‘Pumzi’ that screened at Sundance film festival in 2010. The short film won best short at Cannes independent film festival May 2010 and also took Silver at Carthage film festival in 2010.

Her style has earned her international acclaim and better still sharpened & improved the image of a whole continent. In 2017 Wanuri was named a TED fellow. Her thought leadership earned her the title of World Economic Forum Cultural leader in 2018. She continued to published her first children’s book ‘The Wooden Camel’.

Currently, she’s in post-post production on a feature-length documentary ‘GER’ (to separate) and is pre-production on a near future Science fiction film set in Nairobi called ‘Rusties’.

She is clearly a hard worker. When White Collar reached out to inquire about her personal philosophy she quoted Lorainne Hansberry and said “I wish to live because life has within it that which is good, that which is beautiful and that which is love. Therefore since I have known all these things, I have found them to be reason enough and - I wish to live.”

Who is Wanuri Kahiu?

I’m a mother, a wife and a daughter. I’m also an afro-bubblegum filmmaker which is someone who celebrates the hope and joy of Africa through art. I feel as though Images of hope and joy are the way through which we transform how we see ourselves and how we interact with the rest of the world.

Tell us more about you.What was your childhood like?

I grew up in Nairobi, I have a younger brother and we shared a happy childhood. I have great parents who are super supportive parents but they were a little thrown when I decided to go into film.

Wangari Mathai. She was the ultimate role model for me.

I remember at first I really didn’t understand why people would have such heated debates about her because all she really wanted to do was conserve the environment.

Do you feel education prepared you for what you’re currently doing?

Yes. Very much so! Education taught me how to think critically and face challenges. You also learn how to interact with many different people.

How did you find you way to film?

At 16 I knew that I wanted to be a filmmaker. I remember walking into Rafael Tuju’s office when he was looking for a film license to start a tv station and it hit me that people actively create content for television and that was and a career choice. I knew immediately that, that was what I wanted to do with my life.

Scene from Rafiki

Are there any missed opportunities that you wish you leveraged?

No. I believe that everything happens for when it’s meant to happen and you just need to trust and let go.

What can you say is the toughest obstacle you’ve faced?

Oh wow! So many! So many obstacles that I believe that making a film is in and of itself an obstacle. First, you have to fight against what people think about artists, and what they think of artists isn’t great. Also to complete a film project takes so much. Everything from funding to creating the content is quite a challenge.

Personally, I’d say the most challenging thing for me is my relationship with film. Having to commit to film knowing full well how much of a challenge it is, isn’t easy.

What achievement are you most proud of?

My children.

What is the film ‘Rafiki’ about?

Rafiki means friend in Swahili, and often when Kenyans of the same sex are in a relationship, they forgo the ability to introduce their partners, lovers, mates, husbands or wives as they would like, and instead call them “Rafiki”.

You’ve heard the phrase “Good Kenyan girls become good Kenyan wives,” but in the film ‘Rafiki’ the characters Kena and Ziki long for something more. Despite the political rivalry between their families, the girls resist and remain, close friends, supporting each other to pursue their dreams in a conservative society. And when love blossoms between them, the two girls are forced to choose between happiness and safety.

How does one fund a film in Africa?

You apply everywhere. I mean, send your script to as many scriptwriting competitions as possible. You apply to as many funds for films/institutes as possible. There are many international funds available for filmmakers you just have to apply. But the application process is very tedious.

church scene from Rafiki

What does it take to premier a film at a festival?

At a festival or at Cannes?

Yeah. Can you ighlight the difference for me.

Well, the Cannes Independent film festival is the world’s biggest film festival. There are film giants there, people who filmmakers study and look up to, people who I personally look up to. And to play where the greatest have played is the biggest privilege on earth.

To get there requires working consistency. You have to be consistent. By this I mean, the ability to complete a project. For me, The ability to complete a project is a success. There are so many people who start projects but very few see them through to the end.

I’ll give an example of ‘Rafiki’. Rafiki took about 7 years to source for funding and another year to shoot. This is what I mean by not giving up and seeing it through to the end. This is perseverance.

What does the film landscape in Africa look like right now?

It looks pretty good. Especially in Kenya, we have ‘Supa Modo’ an African superhero film. We have ‘Disconnect’ which is an unexpected film. We’re really pushing boundaries and making real films. We’re excited about where we are in the world when it comes to film.

Have you found balance between your career and personal life?

No. I don’t know how to yet. But I’m grateful because I have the most supportive husband. My children as well are really supportive and are learning to accept the direction our family is taking.

In America we’ve seen film stars speak out about #MeToo. Is it relevant in Africa?

Of course, it’s relevant in Africa. It’s relevant to every woman! I’m glad that we’re seeing people speaking up about this. And that the days of men getting away with this kind of behaviour are coming to an end.

How do we approach #MeToo in a way that works?

As women, we have a responsibility, to tell the truth, and state facts. Now, there is a greater need for and diligence for honesty. We cannot be falsely accusing people. These days people are judged on social media off of accusations and entire reputations are being destroyed.

Do you feel that film and art have made you a better person?

Infinitely! The film has caused me to go to different places and met interesting new people from different cultures. In such settings, you encounter the most interesting ideas.